Post Operative Care in Ayurveda

Post Operative Care in Ayurveda

Introduction of Post-operative Care:

Post-operative Care

Any surgery of a patient has been divided in three parts;

1) Pre-operative assessment
2) Main operative procedure/ Main surgical procedure
3) Post-operative care
After completion of the main operative procedure/surgery, initially patient is transferred in to the ward, where proper care should be taken by the hospital staff and his relatives.

Post-operative care mentioned in Ayurvedic Classics:

Usually patient is advised to take nothing by mouth prior and after 6-8 hours of the main operative procedure. After completion of the surgery, he is under effect of anaesthesia for some time, even he may loss some blood during operative procedure and certainly he may feel mental stress during the entire procedure, so ultimately he must be feeling weak from healthy one. Even his digestive power is being weak. He may be feeling of mild to moderate pain at the operative part. And sometimes due to the side effect of the anaesthesia, he may be complains of back pain, headache, continence of urine and abdominal discomfort.

For restores patient’s energy level and become free from all the infections and side effects, he must be care properly after the surgery. The authentic Ayurvedic classics i.e. Sushrut Samhita, have clearly given the rules for care of a patient after any operative procedure, which is known as ‘Vranitopasan’ (Post-operative Care). It is clearly mentioned in Ayurvedic classics that initial what type of accommodation required for the patient who has undergone Surgery, what type of food has to be given or not after surgery and the daily routine of a patient for restore complete health as soon as possible which is given below.

• He should be reside in such an auspicious house/ ward which is free from dirt, direct wind, direct sunlight, heavy breeze and insects such as flies, mosquitoes etc.
• He should be residing in such a place where he is being served with affectionate friends and caring nursing staff who talk pleasantly.
• The patient should sleep on a wide bed; convenient for easy movements of his body and head placed to the east (The head of the patient should be kept in that direction as a sign of worship).
• The patient should wear white dress which is symbol of purity.
• He should keep himself clean and pure.
• He should always remain devoid of undesirable nails and hairs.
• He should protect the operative part/wound during his activities such as raising, turning, walking, speaking loudly etc.
• He should avoid day sleep and sleep during late nights.
• The patient should not indulge in standing, sitting, walking for long time and over exercise initial after the surgery though he has strong body physique.
• He should keep away himself from sexual activities (copulation).
• He should avoid clashes such as jealousy, fear, anger, grief, worries etc.
• He should avoid excessive and untimely eating.
• Initially he should avoid to take freshly harvested grains, black gram, sesame, cow peas, things which  are sour, salty and pungent in taste, jiggery, eatables made from fine flour, dry meat, dry vegetables, meat and muscle fat of animals living in marshy places and water such as fish, beef, pork etc., cold water, milk pudding, milk, buttermilk etc. as these eatables are belongs to ‘Dosha Samjanana Varga’ (Group causing aggravation of Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and indulgence of these things will produce pus at the operative site.
•  The person who is habitual drunker should avoid alcohol which is sour in tast, dry, strong and having hot potency and quick acting such as wine, whisky, jinn, rum, vodka etc. as consumption of these things will damage the wound/operative site quickly.
• He should also avoid dislike foods.
• The patient should keep himself busy in worship the god and other spiritual activities so his mind and body will become full of positive energy.
• Bothe the priest and the physician should perform ‘Raksha Karma’ (Protective rites) daily during the union of the day and night (early morning and early evening) as stipulated in epic i.e. Rigveda, Saamveda, Yajurveda, Atharv-veda and other benedictory hymns.
• ‘Ayurvedic fumigation’ (Dhupan karma) should be done up to initial ten nights, twice a day after surgery using leaves of ‘Nimba’ (Azadirachta indica), Mustard seeds added with Ghee (Clarified butter) and Rock salt (Saindha Namak).
• Some special herbs i.e. Vacha (root of Acorus calamus), Ativisha (root of Aconitum heterophylum), Shatvirya (root of Asparagus racemosus), Brahmi (root of Centella asiatica), Jatamamsi (root of Nordostachys jatamansi) should keep under the cap wear on head by the patient. By resorting of the above activity initial after the surgery being performed, virus and bacteria is getting away from the patient just like other animals run away from the forest invaded by the lion.

Post operative diet plan:

• ‘Ashtaguna Mand’ – A thin gruel made by eight drugs i.e. Moong beens and Rice fried in  Sesame seed oil with the toppings of Dry ginger powder, Black pepper powder, Long pepper powder, Coriander seeds powder, Asafoetida and Rock salt. This gruel is very much powerful for increasing the digestive power of the patient and helps to produce new blood in the body. This gruel will help to come out from the side effects of the anaesthesia such as continence of urine flow, abdominal discomfort. This gruel restores the patient’s energy level quickly. So after surgery, patient should start his diet with this ‘Ashtaguna Mand’.
• Vegetables: Pointed gourd (Parwal), Bitter gourd (Karela), Momordica dioica (Kankoda), Bottle gourd (Dudhi/loki), Snake gourd (Galaka), Ridge gourd (Turiya), Brinjal (Bengan), Cucumber (Kakadi), Drumstick (Sargava), Spinach leaves (Paalakh), Prickly Amaranth (Tandalaja), Coriander leaves (Dhaniya)
• Non-veg: Meat of animals dwells in arid climate or deserts, Meat of goat, Meat of deer.
• Grains/Cereals: Rice flakes, Popcorn, Popped Jowar and Puffed Rice
• Beans: Moong beans, Moong Dal (to be fried in Cow’s Ghee(clarified butter made from cow’s milk)
• Edible Oils, Ghee (clarified butter), Milk & other Dairy Products: Sesame seed oil, Cow’s Ghee (clarified butter made from cow’s milk) and Tea.
• Fruits: Pomegranate (Daadim), Grapes, Gooseberry (Aavlaa) and Coconut water
• Dry Fruits: Figs and Dry black grapes
• Salt/Honey: Rock Salt (Saindhav/Sindhalun) and Honey
• Drinking Water: Warm water for whole day